Fallon also heeds consultant Drummey's advice that there's no need to buy three separate computers (a laptop, a desktop for accounting functions, and a desktop to function as a server). Fallon needs a server to provide extra horsepower so he can print blueprints on the plotter without hanging up his main workstation for hours. Drummey points out that Fallon could use one desktop computer -- he recommends an iMac DV series machine (400MHz with 64MB of RAM) for about $1,300 -- for both functions. Fallon is quickly persuaded. (That decision will help bring him in more than $2,000 under budget, for a final sum of $8,881.)
On the other hand, Fallon is unmoved by Claflin's argument that an Iomega Zip 250 USB drive (about $180) would not be adequate for backup. Claflin recommends VST Technologies' FireWire external hard drive (which will connect through the PowerBook's FireWire drive) with 14GB of memory for $429. After consulting with Drummey, Fallon decides to save nearly $250 by going with the Zip drive. And if he loses files, well, he can always go back to the drawing board.
Lauren Gibbons Paul is a freelance writer based in Waban, Mass.
The Gear He Picked
MAIN WORKSTATION: Fallon likes to beat computer makers at their own game by buying models that have just become obsolete. So he was in the market for a 333MHz PowerBook notebook (about $1,900). But Fallon's advisers urged him to spend about $600 extra on a PowerBook G3 with a 400MHz chip, a 6GB hard drive, and 64MB of RAM (about $2,500). The extra money translated into a faster chip, more RAM, and two FireWire ports (which allow high-speed data transfer between the machine and peripherals such as digital cameras).
Final Choice: PowerBook G3, $2,494, from Computer Town
COLLATERAL WORKSTATION: Since he needs a desktop machine only to perform some accounting tasks and to function as a print server, Fallon economized as much as possible on this choice. Luckily for him, now is a good time to buy an iMac. With a 400MHz G3 processor, 64MB of RAM, a 10GB hard disk, and dual 400Mbps FireWire ports, the iMac DV is a bargain at just over $1,300.
Final Choice: iMac DV series, $1,323, from Computer Town
PLOTTER: The Achilles' heel of Fallon's budget -- and the bane of his crowded office -- the plotter was the most expensive and heftiest piece of equipment on his shopping list. Because this is mission-critical equipment, it made sense for Fallon to drop some dough on this machine. Fallon bypassed several cheaper models and opted for a 36-inch (E-size) Hewlett-Packard DesignJet with 300-dpi color capability (600 dpi for black).
Final Choice: HP DesignJet 488CA, $3,534, from Hewlett-Packard
PRINTER: Fallon needed a printer that could handle 17-by-22-inch color output. He decided to purchase a stand-alone model rather than an all-in-one printer-scanner-copier-fax machine.
Final Choice: Epson Stylus 1520, $590 (with PostScript add-on), from Computer Town
SCANNER: Once he made the decision to split up the scanning, printing, faxing, and copying functions, Fallon wasn't much interested in researching each choice to death. He took the advice of a Mac adviser and picked a relatively inexpensive scanner model from Umax.
Final Choice: Umax Astra 2200, $199, from MacMall.com
CELL PHONE: Fallon chose this model for Nokia's reputed reliability. Service: SunCom.
Final Choice: Nokia 5160, $99 (plus activation fee and a $35 service charge per month that includes 300 minutes)
DIGITAL CAMERA: Fallon was sorely tempted by Epson PhotoPC 850Z (about $800), which can handle panoramic views and has a microphone capability for documenting each photo. Though that would be useful when sending site photos to clients, Fallon couldn't justify the expense. He went for a cheaper model.
Final Choice: Epson PhotoPC 650, $300, from Computer Town
The Gear He Skipped
COMBINATION MOUSE-TRACKBALL: The Kensington Orbit mouse-trackball is easier to position and more precise than a conventional mouse -- a real temptation for an architect -- but Fallon stuck with the mouse that came with his PowerBook G3. Saved: $50
FLAT-PANEL MONITOR: Fallon wanted the 15-inch flat-panel Apple Studio Display, but he knew he could get by without it. Saved: $1,299
COPIER Fallon regretfully knocked the Sharp AL-1220 off his list; it put too much of a strain on the budget. Fallon will visit the local Kinko's for copies, though that will mean driving and gas expenses. Saved: about $850
HANDHELD DEVICE: Fallon's wife bought him a Casio electronic organizer for Christmas many years ago, and it's been collecting dust ever since. Although he realizes both the functionality and the size of handhelds have improved greatly, Fallon prefers to carry a tiny calendar and a notebook in his pocket, a trick he learned at the knee of his businessman father. Saved: about $200
STAND-ALONE FAX: Fallon felt that he maxed out his budget on the stand-alone printer and scanner, so he didn't want to cough up extra for the fax machine. He decided to use the software fax capabilities that come standard on the Mac. Saved: about $250
For more on the gear you really need to start and grow your small business, see our CEO's Start-Up Toolkit.
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